Treaty between Algiers and Sweden (1729)

Treaty between Algiers and Sweden (1729) was the first treaty between Sweden and Regency of Algiers and acted as a peace and trade treaty, it regarded the treatment of Swedish captives in Algeria, and in return for regular tribute Swedish ships were to carry special passes and would be granted immunity from attack in the Mediterranean sea.

Sweden's contact with Algiers was a desire to prevent it from attacking Swedish merchant ships in warm waters. The solution to protect its economic security was to follow the path of other European countries, and to offer a proposal to sign a peace treaty between the two countries. This done in 1729. Thus, Algiers obtained a new financier for its fleet with marine construction materials, and Sweden entered the club of tax-paying countries for Algiers, and established - following the example of the French, the English and the Dutch - a consulate in Algiers, which was the first Swedish consulate in the entire Islamic world.

A Scottish resident in Algiers named George Logie helped arrange the treaty and was the head negotiator George Lugie, being the first Swedish consul in Algiers, wrote in a letter to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce dated 13 October 1738: "I can find no other way in which Algiers will be more useful to Sweden than by keeping the peace with it. Peace with Algiers gives our ships the freedom to sail safely to the Spanish and Portuguese shores as well as the rest of the mediterranean ports"

Stipulations

 * No Swedish captives should be harmed or tortured.
 * No Swedish subject should be enslaved.
 * If a slave flees to a Swedish warship, that slave should be taken back.
 * No Swedish subject should be forced to ransom a slave, nor can the slave's owner be forced to sell against his will.

Results
As a reward for his success, George Logie became the first consul for Sweden in Algeria and went on to sign treaties with Tunis, Tripoli, and Morocco.